Frozen Dessert

By the end of the 1940s, Americans were starting a love affair with "gourmet" dishes like strawberries Romanoff. Here’s an updated version, flavored with Grand Marnier and vanilla.

This dessert hits both sweet and savory notes. Aged balsamic vinegar has a syruplike consistency, so a little drizzle goes a long way. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 15 min

These delectable treats can be kept in the freezer for up to one month. They're great to have on hand for snacks or for serving to unexpected company.

Tossing the peaches in lemon juice brightens their flavor.

We call for English-style bitter orange marmalade (made with Seville oranges and often called Dundee) because other types made the ice cream too sweet and too soft. It's available at specialty foods shops and some supermarkets. This recipe makes about a dozen more florentines than you'll need for the sandwiches, but it's a good idea to have extra in case one or two break — and the cookies are delicious even without the ice cream. Active time: 1 1/2 hr Start to finish: 7 hr (includes freezing)

Two ultimate comfort foods — ice cream and hot fudge — team up in an exceptional all-American dessert. (And, yes, the hot fudge sauce gets chewy when it hits the ice cream.)

Move over, cranberry sauce! This sorbet is an alternate way of bringing that tangy flavor to the table.

Softer than most, this version of the flavored dessert ice is spooned rather than scraped into dishes; they should be well chilled.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

The good news here is that there will be leftover ice cream to enjoy at another time.

Juicy peaches, crushed cookies and vanilla ice cream spiked with brandy and amaretto add up to a perfect summer treat.

(GRANITA DI LAMPONE) Sicily's Arab conquerors were on to something when they chilled sarbat (sweet fruit syrups) with snow from Mount Etna. The evolution from chilled syrup to frozen syrup-granita-was only a matter of time. Granita is still very popular in Sicily, where the most common kinds are coffee and lemon. But it is also enjoyed throughout Italy in a host of other flavors. A big plus to this refreshing ice is that it is prepared without an ice cream maker.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This torte consists of three flavors of ice cream or frozen yogurt that are layered with Nutella, a creamy hazelnut-chocolate spread available in specialty foods stores and most supermarkets. (Look for it where the peanut butter is sold.) The Nutella freezes firmly on the ice cream, but is soft enough to cut through.